Area college baseball: Spartans blank Marshall, 3-0

Published: Friday, March 1, 2013 at 3:15 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 12:18 a.m.

USC Upstate used a great pitching performance from Brandon Lee and a trio of well-placed RBI singles to send the Spartans to a 3-0 victory over Marshall University Friday afternoon at Harley Park.

The Spartans (6-2) were led by another impressive outing from Lee (3-0), who picked up his third victory in as many starts to open the season.

The senior scattered eight hits over nine innings, tallied seven strikeouts and benefited from three double plays to stifle the Marshall offense.

Upstate manufactured a run in the third inning, when Brody Greer coaxed a lead-off walk and advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by AJ Mackey. Jordan Stampler then stepped in the box and turned on the first pitch he saw and laced a single down the left field line to plate Greer and give the Spartans a 1-0 lead.

Greer was at it again in the fifth inning, this time singling through the right side to bring Brandon Patterson racing home and giving Upstate a 2-0 lead. The single from Greer extended his hitting streak to eight games to open the season.

The Spartans added one more insurance run in the fifth inning when Tyler Lesch singled home Greer to give Upstate a 3-0 lead and create the final margin of victory.

Limestone 8, No. 10 Coker 7: In Hartsville, Limestone (10-4, 2-1) erased an early six-run deficit, rallying for a win in Game 1 of a three-game series against No. 10 Coker (10-5, 3-1). The Saints had a five-run fourth inning and scored three in the fifth to take the lead.

Caleb Shelley earned the win for Limestone, pitching 4 1/3 innings of relief while allowing three runs. Julian Bridges did most of the damage at the plate for the Saints, finishing 4-for-5.

Dayton 5, Wofford 4, 10 innings: Wofford was defeated in extra innings by Dayton at Russell C. King Field. The Terriers had a 4-3 lead after six innings, but the Flyers scored once in the eighth to tie the game and plated the winning run in the 10th. Wofford (4-5) was led by Josh Hyman (Woodruff) who had three hits.

North Greenville 4-5, West Virginia State 1-3: In Tigerville, the Crusaders used late rallies in both games to sweep a doubleheader.

Allen Staton and Bradley Scruggs earned wins for North Greenville. Staton went 3-for-4 with three RBIs to lead the Crusaders at the plate in Game 1, while Wheeler Smith went 3-for-3 in Game 2.

<p>USC Upstate used a great pitching performance from Brandon Lee and a trio of well-placed RBI singles to send the Spartans to a 3-0 victory over Marshall University Friday afternoon at Harley Park.</p><p>The Spartans (6-2) were led by another impressive outing from Lee (3-0), who picked up his third victory in as many starts to open the season.</p><p>The senior scattered eight hits over nine innings, tallied seven strikeouts and benefited from three double plays to stifle the Marshall offense.</p><p>Upstate manufactured a run in the third inning, when Brody Greer coaxed a lead-off walk and advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by AJ Mackey. Jordan Stampler then stepped in the box and turned on the first pitch he saw and laced a single down the left field line to plate Greer and give the Spartans a 1-0 lead.</p><p>Greer was at it again in the fifth inning, this time singling through the right side to bring Brandon Patterson racing home and giving Upstate a 2-0 lead. The single from Greer extended his hitting streak to eight games to open the season.</p><p>The Spartans added one more insurance run in the fifth inning when Tyler Lesch singled home Greer to give Upstate a 3-0 lead and create the final margin of victory.</p><p><b>Limestone 8, No. 10 Coker 7: </b>In Hartsville, Limestone (10-4, 2-1) erased an early six-run deficit, rallying for a win in Game 1 of a three-game series against No. 10 Coker (10-5, 3-1). The Saints had a five-run fourth inning and scored three in the fifth to take the lead.</p><p>Caleb Shelley earned the win for Limestone, pitching 4 1/3 innings of relief while allowing three runs. Julian Bridges did most of the damage at the plate for the Saints, finishing 4-for-5.</p><p><b>Dayton 5, Wofford 4, 10 innings: </b>Wofford was defeated in extra innings by Dayton at Russell C. King Field. The Terriers had a 4-3 lead after six innings, but the Flyers scored once in the eighth to tie the game and plated the winning run in the 10th. Wofford (4-5) was led by Josh Hyman (Woodruff) who had three hits.</p><p><b>North Greenville 4-5, West Virginia State 1-3: </b>In Tigerville, the Crusaders used late rallies in both games to sweep a doubleheader.</p><p>Allen Staton and Bradley Scruggs earned wins for North Greenville. Staton went 3-for-4 with three RBIs to lead the Crusaders at the plate in Game 1, while Wheeler Smith went 3-for-3 in Game 2.</p>